Healy growing as player, putting early stamp on 'Hounds’ season

Published 4:41 pm, Saturday, April 16, 2016

Rockhounds' Ryon Healy swings against Northwest Arkansas during the season opener Thursday, April 9, 2015 at Security Bank Ballpark. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

Rockhounds' Ryon Healy swings against Northwest Arkansas during the season opener Thursday, April 9, 2015 at Security Bank Ballpark. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

Healy growing as player, putting early stamp on 'Hounds’ season

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In just his second season at the Double-A level, Midland RockHounds first baseman Ryon Healy is displaying those sought-after tools that could turn him into a potentially special player.

After playing an all-star campaign in 2015 -- one in which he hit .302 with 10 home runs and 62 RBI en route to Midland’s back-to-back Texas League Championship -- Healy has seamlessly carried himself over into the 2016 season.

Now in his fourth year of professional baseball, the University of Oregon product has put his stamp on Midland’s 4-4 mark over the first eight games this season.

He’s hitting .300, has belted two home runs -- including Friday’s game-winning home run -- has driven in nine runs and has posted a .400 on-base percentage.

He’s hitting comfortably in the middle of the RockHounds’ order and is even adjusting to a new defensive position at first base with Oakland’s No. 6 prospect Matt Chapman having taken over at the “hot corner.”

Healy, the A’s No. 17-ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline, said the key to his continued success was, in part, an increased focus and determination to get better during the offseason. After his all-star year last season, he knew he had a feeling he would be playing a major role once again for Midland in 2016.

“I think I did a great job this offseason growing,” Healy said. “As a player, helping myself on and off the field, mechanically, (I) worked with a lot of people in spring training and the coaching staff and developmental people did a great job helping me out.”

Midland second-year manager Ryan Christenson said some of the mechanical adjustments Healy made during the offseason are already paying dividends this year.

“He made a couple of adjustments in his swing path over the offseason and it’s transferred right away from day one of spring training,” Christenson said. “He’s staying through the ball a little bit better, elevating a little bit more.”

But in Christenson’s eyes, not much else about Healy has changed. The shining intangible traits - namely his work ethic -- that helped make him enjoy breakout production last season are still present in top form.

“His work ethic is still just as good,” Christenson said. “I don’t know how much he expected to go to (Triple-A) Nashville to start the year. But the fact that he’s here and continuing to have a good mindset to get his quality at-bats is the main thing wherever he’s playing.

Added Christenson: “That fact that he’s here with us, we’ll take advantage of it and watch him continue to go up there and do his thing.”

As the RockHounds have begun their TL title defense for the second straight year, Healy said having strong mental discipline will assist him in grinding through another long 140-game season that will include both slumps and hot streaks.

“I think having a (good) mental approach (will be key),” Healy said. “I think the physical things always catch up but the mind is the one thing that needs a little bit more time to get used to game speed. I need to have an approach every at-bat in that regard.”

And in a “game of failure” such as baseball, staying positive through the ebbs and flows of the long season will be equally paramount.

“Being positive helps a lot,” Healy said. “Obviously, negative aspects of the game are everywhere. But if you allow yourself to focus on the positives, it will outweigh the negatives.”